Mississippi abortion clinic again seeks to block law

JACKSON — Attorneys for Mississippi's only abortion clinic are again asking a federal judge to block a state law that threatens to eventually close the facility, though a closing is not expected any time soon.

In court papers filed Wednesday, attorneys say the Jackson Women's Health Organization has been unable to obtain privileges for most of its physicians to admit patients to a local hospital, despite repeated attempts to get the access the past few months.

A state law that took effect in July requires admitting privileges. It also says anyone performing abortions must be a board-certified OB-GYN.

Supporters of the law say it's designed to protect patients' safety. The clinic argues in court papers that the requirements are "arbitrary and medically unnecessary."

"Anti-choice politicians were very clear that they had one in thing in mind when they passed this law: to shut down Mississippi's only abortion clinic," Nancy Northup, president and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a news release Wednesday. "It isn't a surprise to anyone that the physicians at the Jackson Women's Health Organization haven't been able to obtain admitting privileges at any local hospital."

It was not immediately clear how soon the judge might consider the clinic's latest request.

Republican Rep. Sam Mims of McComb, who sponsored the bill, said it had bipartisan support.

"The clinic has had ample time to become compliant with this new legislation," Mims said Wednesday. "We believe the law should be enforced."

The state health officer, Dr. Mary Currier, filed a sworn statement in federal court July 12, showing the clinic would get about 10 months, from then, to try to follow the mandates and to exhaust its administrative appeals with the Health Department. That time runs out next spring. If the clinic loses its state license, it would then get more time to appeal that loss to a state court.

Admitting privileges can be difficult to obtain. Some hospitals won't issue them to out-of-state physicians, while hospitals that are affiliated with religious groups might not want to associate with anyone who does elective abortions.

One of the clinic's four physicians has admitting privileges, but the clinic says he does little work at the clinic and he had the privileges before the new law took effect. The other three don't have privileges.